Steroids



STEROIDS No Drawing. Application June 10, 1955 Serial No. 514,785

6 Claims. (Cl. 260397.45)

' This invention relates to 11B,21-dihydroxy-4,17(20)- [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one and 21-acyl esters thereof which may be represented by the following structural formula:

wherein R is hydrogen or the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to twelve carbon atoms, inclusive.

. This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applications S. N. 307,385, filed August 30, 1952, now U. S. Patent 2,774,776; S. N. 345,677, filed March 30,1953, now U. S. Patent 2,715,621; and S. N. 447,676, filed August 3, 1954, now abandoned. Those applications disclose a method for the producton of 115,21-dihydroxy-4,l7(20)-pregnadiene-3-one and 21-acyl esters thereof. We have now found that the method disclosed in those applications produces the 17(20)-cis isomer, almost exclusively, at the reaction temperatures of the examples.

, It is an object of the present invention to provide the novel 115,21 dihydroxy 4,l7(20)-[cis]-pregnadiene-3- one and 21-esters thereof. Another object is the provision of these compounds substantially free. from their l7(20)-[trans] isomers. Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

The compounds of the present invention are useful as intermediates in the production of physiologically active steroids and possess physiological activity per se. For

example, the oxidative hydroxylation of 115,21-dihydroxy 4,17 (20) [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one and 2l-esters thereof with osmium tetroxide and an oxidizing agent such as, for example, hydrogen peroxide, a peracid, an amine oxide peroxide, etc.', is productive of hydrocortisone and 21-esters thereof as disclosed more fully in copending application Ser. No. 307,385.

Oxidation of 11p,21-dihydroxy-'4,17 (20) -[cis] -pregnadiene-3-one with manganese dioxide is productive of 3 keto 11,6 hydroxy 4,l7(20) [cis] -pregnadiene-21-al, which can be hydroxylated with osmium tetroxide, either in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide, and then rearranged by heating with pyridine to produce hydrocortisone, as disclosed in the copending application S. N. 360,374 of Beal and Hogg, filed June 8, 1953, now U. S. Patent 2,732,834. I Oxidation of 115,21-dihydroxy-4, 17 (20) [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one or 21-acyl ester thereof with chromic acid in glacial acetic acid, in the presence of pyridine, is pro- States atent ice 2 ductive of 2l-hydroxy-4,17(20)-[cis]-pregnadiene-3,11- dione and 21-esters thereof, respectively. These compounds can be oxidatively hydroxylated with osmium tetroxide and hydrogen peroxide or other oxidizing agent to cortisone and 21-acyl esters thereof, respectively, as disclosed in Ser. No. 307,385.

115,21 dihydroxy 4,l7(20) [cis] pregnadiene 3- one possesses antibacterial activity, especially against Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Bacillus subtilis.

In the U. S. Patents 2,662,816 and 2,662,854 of Miescher et al., referenceis made to a A -3-keto-11flhydroxy-2l-acetoxy-pregnadiene. Although a method of preparation for this compound is not disclosed therein and the compound is not otherwise disclosed in the prior art, all of the methods known in the prior art which might be adapted to produce this compound would result in the production of 11p hydroxy 21 acetoxy-4,- 17(20) [trans] pregnadiene-3-one. For example, the method disclosed by Miescher et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 22, (1939),, for the production of the corresponding ll-desoxy compound has been shown by Fieser and Fieser, Natural Products Related to Phenanthrene, third edition, pages 410 to 452, especially page 414 (1949), to result in the trans configuration at the 17(20)- double bond.-

According to Fieser and Fieser, a 17(20)-[trans]- steroid results in the production of ZOB-hydroxy steroids upon hydroxylation with osmium tetroxide. We have found that the hydroxylation of 11B-hydroxy-2l-acetoxy- 4,l7(20) [trans] -pregnadiene-3-one with osmium tetroxide results in the production of 1lfi,17a,20,B-trihydroxy-21-acetoxy-4-pregnene-3-one, (Reichsteins Compound E acetate). Hydroxylation of llfl-hydroxy-Zlacetoxy-4,17(20)-[cis]-pregnadiene-3-one, a compound of the present invention, results in the production of the epimeric 1113,17a,20ot trihydroxy-21-acetoxy-4-pregnene- 3-one.

The novel compounds of the present invention, i. c., 11 3,21 dihydroxy 4,l7(20) [cis] pregnadiene-3-one and -21-esters thereof have advantages over the corresponding 17(20)-trans isomers. For example, in an oxidative hydroxylation, e. g., with hydrogen peroxide and osmium tetroxide according to the method described by Miescher et al., employing the cis isomer of llfi-hydroxy- 2l-acetoxy-4,17(20)-pregnadiene-3-one as starting steroid results in the production of greater yields of hydrocortisone acetate than the identical oxidative hydroxylation of the trans isomer. This advantage has been found in other hydroxylations employing other hydroxylating and oxidizing agents, as shown in the comparative example hereinafter; The other cis compounds of the present invention possess a similar advantage over the corresponding trans isomers. A preferred aspect of the present invention, therefore, is the novel 11,8,2l-dihydroxy 4,l7(20) [cis]-pregnadiene-3one and 21-esters thereof substantially free from their 17(20) [trans]- lsomers.

1 15,21-dihydroxy-4, 17 (20) [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one is prepared from ll-ketoprogesterone by the following reactions, all as more fully disclosed in our copending application S. N. 307,385: ll-ketoprogesterone is reacted with about one mole of sodium methoxide and a molar equivalent or more of diethyl oxalate to produce the sodium enolate of 21-ethoxyoXalyl-1l-ketoprogesterone. Dibrominating this latter compound with two molar equivalents of bromine is productive of 2l-ethoxyoxalyl- 21,21-dibrorno-ll-keto-progesterone which is converted by sodium methoxide in methanol to 3,1l-diketo-4, 17 (20)-[cis]-pregnadiene-21-oic acid methyl ester. The temperature of conversion governs the stereo-configuration of this latter compoundas disclosed in co-pending 3 application S. N. 319,173 (now U. S. Patent 2,752,366). At temperatures of thirty degrees centigrade and below the 17(20)-cis isomer predominates. It can be separated in crude form from the reaction mixture by chromatographic methods and purified by recrystallization. It melts. at

temperatures above 207 degrees centigrade. The trans.

sta es-isms i h. forms, t h he a a emperat r melts z t-above 15 5 degrees centigrade. This latter.com-,.

pound is ketalized with ethylene glycol in the presence of; pgga-toluenesulfonic acid in boiling benzenewith a Water; t ntq-the t n s ysql tr a of i s .1 Qlzla s nrs aad en i cid. methy e te lteductf of the latter compound with lithium aluminum tdtidaa e is P od c Q the hyle l ol. Kala! Q u1 fi 21rd Y y- -pr s a e3* one, which is hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid in aqueous,

e n? 113.21 t a ion- ;1 (2Q)- i -i a sj f Esteriiication of '11fi,21-dihydr oxy-4,l7(20)- [pisl -pregnadiene-B-one with an acid anhydride, acid chlorideor bromide or acid, in the presence of an esteri tication catalyst, is productive of an LIB-hydroxy-Zl-v acyloxy-4,l- 7(2 0)-[cis]-pregnadiene 3 one.

Refluxing a solution of methyl 3-keto-llg-hydroxy-4,

EXAMPLE 1 1 113,2 1 -dih ydr0xy-4 ,1 7( 20 [cis] -pregnzzdiene-3-one A solution of- 0.572 gram (0.0015 mole) of the 3- ethylene glycol ketal of 11,8,2l-dihydroxy-4,l7-(20)- [cisl-pregnadiene-3-one in forty milliliters of acetone was diluted with water to a volume of fifty milliliters and eight drops of concentrated sulfuric acid wasthen added thereto, whereafter the reaction mixture was kept at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was; then made alkaline by the addition of a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and the acetone was then; evaporated from the mixture. Methylene chloride and more waterwas then added, the methylene chloride layer removed, and the solvent distilled therefrom. The residue, afterdrying in vacuo, consisted of the theoretical 0.518 gram of 1lp,2l-dihydroxy-4,17(20)-[cis]-pregnadiene-3-one.

One crystallization of this product from a mixture of ethyl acetate and Skellysolve B hexane hydrocarbons gave crystals of 11,8,21-dihydroxy-4,17(20)- [cis]-pregnadiene- 3-one melting at 156 to 158 degrees centigrade andhaving an [a] 0f plus 128 degrees in acetone.

Analysis.Calcul ated for C H O C, 76.32; H, 9.15.- Found-: C, 76.04, 75.83; H, 9.43, 9.40

A solution of 0.518 gram of 115,21 dihydroxy-4,17(20)- [cis1-pregnadiene3-one in five milliliters of; pyridine was mixed with two milliliters of acetic anhydride and-the whole was then maintained at room temperature. for seventeen hours whereafter crushed ice was addeclthereto. The prepipitated 11 3-hydrc xy-21-acetoxy-4,17(ZOkLcisJ :v pregnadiene-3-one was 'filtered therefrom, dissolved, in benzene and then chromatographed over a column of 75. grams of Florisil synthetic magnesium silicate. The column was developed with 75-milliliter portions ofsolvents. ofthe following composition and order: benzene, threeportions each of skellysolve B hexane hydrocarbons plus one percent acetone, Skellysolve B plus five percent acetone, Skellysolve B plus ten percent acetone, Skelly-' solve B plus fifteen percent acetone, Skellysolve B plus twenty percent acetone, and finally, two portions of acetone. The eluate fractions containing ten percent and fifteen percent acetone, respectively, were combined, the solvent removed therefrom, and the crystalline residue was crystallized, from a mixture ofethyl acetate Skellysolve B to yield, as the first crop, 0.253 gram, a yield; of, 45 percent of the theoretical, of llfl-hydroxyilacetoxy-4,17(20)-[cis]-pregnadienee3-one melting at l83 to 186 degrees centigrade.

Analys i.g.-Calculated for C H O C, 74.16; H, 8.66. Found: C, 74.18, 73.95; H, 8.45,'8.74.

Similarly, 1 118,2 1-dihydroxy-4, 17 (20) [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one is converted to-qther llfi-hydroxy-Zl-acyloxy- 4,l7(20)-[cis]-pregnadiene-3-ones by esterification of the -hyd sxys oup. a by reaction i ha pp nti and: a hxdris a aid. hlor or mi e ste bi "eaten ex ange, acid in the presence of an esterificationcatalyst, etc. Examples of 1IB-hydroxy-Zl-acyloxy-4,17(20)- [cis]-pregnadiene 3-one prepared include those wherein the acyl group is the acyl radical of, for example, a loweraliphatic acid, e. g., formic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric,

I cyclopropylideneacetic, a cycloaliphatic acid, e. g., cyclopentylformic, cyclopentylacetic, fl-eyclopentylpropionic, cyclohexylforrnic, cyclohexylacetic, B-cyclohexylpropionic, an aryl or alkaryl acid, e. g., benzoic, 2, 3 or 4- met hylbengoic, 2, 3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- and 3,5-dimethylbenzoic, ethylbenzoic, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic, 2,4,6-triethylbenzoic a-naphthoic, 3-methyl-a-naphthoic, and: aralkyl acid, e. g., phenylacetic, phenylpropionic, etc

O idative hydroxylaiionsof the cis and trans: isomers. of 1 lflhydrdxy-Zi a cet 0xy -4,I 7 (20 pregnadiene-3- rtg To a solutio'noi 1.1-1 grams (3.0 m. molesyof the cis' or trans isomer of l 1,8-hydroxy-2l-acetoxy-4,17(2054 pregnadiene-3-one in fifty milliliters oftertiarybutyl alcohol=was added 1.5-: milliliters of pyridine followed by asolution on sixmillimolesof -N-methylrnorpholine oxide peroxidein five milliliters of tertiarybutyl alcohohfol lowed by a solution of 16.6 milligrams of osmium-tetroxide in nine milliliters of tertiary butyl alcohol. ThetN methylmorpholine oxide peroxide was prepared-by the reaction sixmillimoles of. N-methylmorpholine with twelve millimoles of 'anhydrous hydrogen peroxide-in tertiary butyl alcohol. After stirring themixture at room temperature for eighteen hours, a solution of 23a litersot'aqueous five percent sodium sulfite was added and stirring was continued for another 25 minutes. The. reaction mixture was then-concentrated by distillation at room temperature; and reduced vacuum and fift-y milliliters of water was then added portionwise over a period of 35 minutes. The precipitated steroid was filtered, washed with a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol andwaten and; dried. In the reaction with the cis isomer, a second crop of crystalswere obtained upon concentration of the combinedfiltrate and wash. The final mother liquor in both reactions was concentrated by dryness and the solids thus obtained weighed and analyzed by papergrarn.- The. results ofthe two oxidative hydroxylationsare shown below.

i Ga ena;

Percent F acetatetpapergram 1 5 The second crop from the oxidative hydroxylation of? wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydro gen and the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to twelve carbon atoms, inclusive.

2. 11 B-hydroxy-Z1-acyloxy-4,17(20)-[cis] -pregnadiene- 3-one of the following formula Ac-O-C H: H

OH: I

6 wherein Ac is the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to twelve carbon atoms, inclusive.

3. llfl-hydroxy-Z 1-acetoxy-4, 17 (20) -[cis] -pregnadiene- 3-one.

4. 1 1p,21-dihydroxy-4,17 (20)- [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one. 5. 1 1fi-hydroxy-21-acetoxy-4, 17 (20)-[cis]-pregnadiene- 3-one substantially free from its 17(20)-[trans] isomer. 6. 1 15,2 1-dihydroxy-4, 17 (20) [cis] -pregnadiene-3-one substantially free from its 17(20)-[trans] isomer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,662,854 Miescher Dec. 15, 1953 2,668,816 Miescher Feb. 9, 1954 2,694,080 Colton Nov. 9, 1954 2,695,906 Hogg Nov. 30, 1954 2,707,184 Hogg Apr. 26, 1955 2,715,621 Hogg Aug. 16, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Fieser et al.: Natural Products Related to Phenanthrene, 3rd. ed., pp. 412-19 (1949).. 

1. 11B,21-DIHYDROXY-4,17(20)-(CIS)-PREGNADIENE-3-ONE AND 21-ESTERS THEREOF OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA 